A vintage cinema bus, jamboree and literary festival are just some of the activities booked for a bumper programme of events coming to the Shotley peninsula this summer.

The Arthur Ransome East Coast Celebration, kicking off this week, marks 50 years since the death of the popular children’s author who once lived in Pin Mill.

While Ransome was in Suffolk, he wrote We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea, set on the peninsula.

Telling the story of a group of children sailing the Goblin – a boat almost identical to Ransome’s own vessel Nancy Blackett – it was one of the tales in his best-selling Swallows and Amazons series.

Legendary children's author Arthur Ransome

Today the Shotley Peninsula Tourism Action Group (TAG) is launching a string of events for 2017 to celebrate three landmark anniversaries. June 2017 will mark 50 years since Ransome’s death, 80 years since We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea was published and 20 years since the Nancy Blackett Trust was formed.

He said: “Ransome was a colourful character, in his own personal adventures and the stories he created. It’s a joy that much of the inspiration he created 80 years ago, and the details he described around the Shotley peninsula, are still here for all to appreciate. Our tourism group has pleasure in organising activities and events to celebrate the local magic Ransome created.”

Kicking off the celebrations is The Pin Mill Arthur Ransome Jamboree – complete with a vintage cinema, swing boats, and brand new studio photographs – is being hosted on May 13.

Four exclusive Arthur Ransome trails will be set up for the Suffolk Walking Festival throughout May.

On June 1 the HMS Ganges Children’s Party comes to the Bristol Arms – the event will explore Suffolk’s connections with We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea.

Schools across the peninsula will take part in a sea shanty finale at Woolverstone Hall on June 22, and in July a script, sketch and sail event will see year six pupils produce Arthur Ransome-themed designs.

Outdoor film screenings are to be hosted at Suffolk Food Hall while a new literary festival will launch in October.

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